India-Pakistan Legends Semifinal Called Off, Pakistan Through to Final
The semifinal between India and Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends has been cancelled due to the Indian team's refusal to play against their arch-rivals.
Reason for Cancellation
The Indian players had previously refused to play against Pakistan in the league stage, citing objections to the presence of Shahid Afridi in their side. This stance was reportedly taken again for the semifinal.
Anti-Pakistan Sentiment in India
The cancellation comes amid a strong wave of anti-Pakistan sentiment in the country. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has faced criticism for agreeing to host the Asia Cup, where India and Pakistan could potentially face off multiple times.
Tournament Sponsor Disassociates
Earlier on Wednesday, a tournament sponsor announced its disassociation with the match. EaseMyTrip, a 5-year sponsor of the World Championship of Legends, stated that it will not be associated with or participate in any WCL match involving Pakistan.
India Champions Players
Players like Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Stuart Binny, Shikhar Dhawan, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, and Piyush Chawla are members of the India Champions side. Dhawan had previously reiterated his stance that he will not play in any matches against Pakistan.
Impact on Tournament
The cancellation of the semifinal means that Pakistan will automatically advance to the final. South Africa and Australia are the other semifinalists who are scheduled to face off on Thursday.
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